Editorial Standards
Supplement Scored operates as an independent auditor, not an advocate. We apply the same scoring rubric to every product regardless of brand relationships. If a supplement does not work, we say so. If a popular product is underdosed or overpriced, we say that too.
How Reviews Are Produced
Every supplement category follows the same six-step workflow before a single product score is published.
- 1
Rate the clinical evidence
We review systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and the highest-quality RCTs available to assign an evidence tier (T1–T5) to the ingredient type. This rating reflects the molecule, not the brand.
- 2
Identify the effective dose and optimal forms
We determine the minimum clinically effective daily dose from published RCTs and identify the most bioavailable forms from absorption research. This anchors every dosing and value calculation downstream.
- 3
Pull the top products
We identify 8–15 products from Amazon bestsellers, category-leading brands, and reader requests. No brand pays to be included.
- 4
Verify each product
For each product: record every ingredient, dose, and form from the label (DSLD or brand site). Confirm third-party certification status directly against USP, NSF, ConsumerLab, BSCG, and Informed Choice databases. Record current price and servings per container.
- 5
Score on four pillars
Each product is scored on Dosing & Form (0–25), Purity Verification (0–25), Value (0–25), and Transparency (0–25) to produce an execution score out of 100.
- 6
Write and publish
The evidence summary is written from primary research, not press releases. Products are ranked by execution score. The complete scorecard is published with citations.
Sourcing Standards
Primary literature first. Evidence summaries cite PubMed-indexed studies with PMIDs. We do not cite press releases, brand-funded white papers, or secondary sources without tracing the claim to a primary study.
Uncertainty is stated explicitly. “The evidence is mixed” and “one small study showed” are valid conclusions. We specify evidence quality in every claim rather than writing as if all research is equally reliable.
Certifications are verified, not assumed. When a product claims NSF Certified for Sport or USP Verified status, we confirm it against the certification body's public database. Brand claims that cannot be verified against the database are not counted.
Prices are timestamped. Every product page records when prices were last verified. Cost per clinically effective dose — not sticker price — is the value metric.
Independence
Affiliate commissions never touch scores. We earn a commission when you purchase through our links. Every product is scored using the same rubric regardless of whether an affiliate relationship exists. Many of our highest-scored products earn us nothing.
No pay-to-play. No brand can pay to be reviewed, to improve its score, or to guarantee placement. We do not accept sponsored content or paid product placements.
Negative findings are published. If a supplement category has weak clinical evidence, we rate it accordingly regardless of how popular or profitable the category is. Tier 5 (“no meaningful evidence”) is an active rating, not a default.
Corrections Policy
When we discover an error in scoring, evidence summary, pricing, or product information:
- The error is corrected as quickly as possible.
- A correction note with the date is added to the affected page.
- The “Last reviewed” date is updated.
- If the error materially affected a product's score, the product is re-scored and the change is noted.
If you find an error — a wrong dose, an outdated price, a certification claim we got wrong — email us at hello@supplementscored.com. Accuracy is the product. We want to know.